May for Mothers

The beauty of JICT Images is that each person sees a different message in each image and the same person sees a different message at different times! The Queen inspired me in two very different ways … read on …

May is the month for Mothers … I am a mother and a grandmother! The image of the queen reminds me of my matriarchal role, my responsibility as a feminine role model for my children & grandchildren. How I modeled being female influenced how my sons learned to interact with women. It also was significant to how they would be as husbands … quite a responsibility. I’ve always felt honored to parent boys because it allowed me to influence the acculturation of these two men.

The image also reminds me that as a grandmother, I am the elder of the family, the holder of the “story”! Sharing my wisdom with my grandchildren will teach them about their heritage so they understand their roots and can carry those things that are beneficial to their future. Our past informs our present and our future so sharing our stories connects us to our heritage and impacts our choices. The image of the queen says volumes to me about royalty in terms of how it reflects connection, family and heritage. Mothers’ Day reminds me that in my roles as mother and grandmother, I am the bearer of the stories that are the family foundation. I’m honored!

Royal References

As I shuffled through the images for inspiration for this writing, the Queen spoke to me in different ways. Of course the Queen said “Royal Wedding”! I didn’t get up to watch live, however, I did see the replays and was amazed how moved I was. My reaction inspired time for reflection and some revelations. I LOVE the reverence, the fact that people dress up (I like to dress up) the ceremony/ritual and the respect!!! What came to me was what a different world it would be if respect was more present everywhere.

I realized that I was moved because the references to the princes losing their Mom was reminiscent of my boys (princes) lost their dad. And we walked behind the coffin from the church to the cemetery … certainly not the public event that was Diana’s and yet an image nonetheless of that similar experience.

I was also moved by what seemed to be such a happy couple in love. It was refreshing to see a young royal couple so real, so clear about themselves and so in love … truly a fairy tale. The images said hope … hope for a couple starting a new life, hope in the future and hope for me … in my quest to meet that special person. I’m dreaming of a fairly tale sometime soon!

Watch for the next blog to learn about the other “queen” inspiration … a very different inspiration!

Stuff Builds

Coaching clients report that images are extremely helpful to uncover things that sometimes are deeply buried. One client was able to express how trapped she felt with the assistance of the image of the tunnel.

As she expressed it, “stuff” kept building so that she could not even see an opening. Once she acknowledged that there was “stuff” she was able to name the many elements of it. Peeling back the layers of “stuff” led to conversations that allowed her to face many of the things that kept her trapped. She ultimately healed relationships, made career choices that excited her and was generally empowered. She is ever grateful to have seen that tunnel!

Bring Closure

As a way to bring closure to coaching work, I invite a client to choose an image that represents how they were when we started work together and one that represents how they are at the end of our time together. A client recently chose the glider in the snow covered woods which represented aberrant behaviors at the start of our work together which caused “frozen dreams”.


At the closure of our work together, the client chose the image of the rainbow over the mountain signifying that behavior shifts empowered him to feel freer, less burdened, less weighted down … and representative of happiness which he will carry forward as a reminder of what he wants … unfrozen dreams.

JICT Image Gallery

Have you checked out the new JICT Image Gallery? JICT now offers an "on-line" electronic version of all 72 JICT Images.

The JICT Image Gallery offers you the ability to share the images anywhere, anytime with anyone with just the use of a computer. Check out the preview gallery by clicking the "Presentation Gallery" tab above, or by going to http://www.jictimages.com/p/presentation-gallery.html.

We would love to know your thoughts, questions and comments.

Testimonial from Don

Testimonial...

Using the images with a client team, I asked them to choose an image to represent their hopes for the 2-day retreat and one image that just “spoke” to them.

I held the question – “How does the second image relate to your hopes for the team?” until after they had responded to the first question.

First of all they loved all the Images and the idea of using them this way. But secondly, they came up with some really beautiful expressions of their hopes for the retreat and the team. I know that wouldn’t have been possible without the images. It really set a hopeful and positive mood.

- Don Peterson, Executive Coach, Signature Coaching and Consulting

Palpable Play

On the journey...

‘Palpable play’ is what a colleague calls the images. They are a way to bring lightness and possibility to a moment of interaction whether it is with an individual, a pair, and or a large group. The images take us out of our heads, where we tend to live in this culture and open the door to our hearts. Each image is a doorway to a different place. And on a different day, it opens to a very different place. Where does this doorway lead right now?

Creativity In Action

A coaching client found herself always in her head, processing, thinking, worrying, and planning.

She created a meditative practice where, as she took a series of breaths and then exhaled, she was able to pull her energy slowly down from her head finally settling in her gut.

I randomly pulled 6 images from my deck and asked her to choose the one that captured this deep centered energy. Serendipitously, I had selected #17 with the image of the buffalo.

She was immediately attracted to this before she even realized what it was. This felt stable, strong, and mighty to her – just the emotions and language that she was looking for to feel more grounded and centered. Now she has a visual touchstone to help her find this place of stability when she needs it.

Go For It

Image This...What are you holding back from trying? Do you have a new idea that you are excited about using, but another part of you is afraid of the what might happen? A colleague of ours bought her set of images a while ago, but has been hesitant to use them with her clients. She is used to doing things a certain way – in fact she is pretty stuck in her way of working with clients. Comfortable, stuck, and actually a little bored. So she started bringing the JICT box with her and finally decided to go for it. She asked this corporate team, to select an image that expressed what was missing from their team meetings. The energy shifted, the images helped real attitudes emerge and land gently in the middle of the group, and there was new territory to explore.

So what do you need to try today?

Celebration of Mothers

Hello all children of mothers!

We just celebrated Mother’s Day and my wish is that you took time to think about the gifts your mother offers/offered you. My discovery was that sometimes the best gifts are not obvious. If something comes to mind that you don’t like about your mother, try turning it around and see what you discover.

An example from my thinking about my mother is that I didn’t like that she would at times change what I saw as “facts” to make it fit her values. Like one of those things, when you go, “Oh, Mother, really!” When I turned it around, I saw that it served her and how she viewed the person the story was about. She was creating her own reality (something I believe we do) and it worked for her. So, now, I’m thinking if it serves those around you… doesn’t hurt anyone… than shift your thoughts to what works for you and you just may enjoy life more.

Thanks, Mother… never thought I would see such a value in your “gift”!

Go Fly a Kite

It’s spring and maybe we can take a day to “go fly a kite”. This was a favorite childhood activity for me. Growing up in the TX panhandle, we didn’t have to wait for spring winds!!??
This JICT Image has a question on the back of the card:

How is your kite caught in a tree?

What does this bring to mind for you?
What is your “kite”?
Is it “caught” and, if so, how?
What action do you choose to take to get it out of the “tree” and back into the “air”?

Focus Webinar Reflection

The JICT Team recently held a focus webinar with customers who are using JICT Images. This picture describes how we felt when people shared their stories. We heard from folks that are successfully using the images with groups from university students in Ecuador, to organizational teams, and even with children. One person shared that she used them with a small group within an organization where one member had a personal tragedy. The images supported the grief process for that group. Another person shared a story about a group composed of people who were “told” to join the group to work out problems that involved three different organizations. These people who would rather have been anywhere else that day, came together after using the images to focus on a common goal. We are so pleased that the images are supporting the work of so many people.

Announcing JICT Image Gallery

ANNOUNCING the JICT Image Gallery:

The JICT Team has just released an online version of all 72 JICT Images. The JICT Image Gallery product allows you to show all 72 JICT Images via your computer wherever you have Internet access.

For example, let’s say you are using your image cards with a large group. Now you can show the entire group the image card each person or group selected.

This on-line ‘set of images’ allows you to use the JICT images with clients on the phone and to bring the images into large group presentations and workshops. You share the images over Skype, your client chooses the just right one in the moment, you enlarge it to fill the screen, and your conversation is launched! Accessing the Gallery for a large group, you can quickly choose the one image for everyone to focus on to enrich your discussion. To review a small sample of the gallery, go to http://www.jictimages.com/p/presentation-gallery.html or just click the "Presentation Gallery" tab above.

Wow!! Excited? We are!! Click here to order.